Season 14's premiere "Lost Reputation" follows on from the chilling cliffhanger ending of the outstanding Season 13 finale "Rhodium Nights" (easily the best season finale since Season 8's "Screwed"). On first watch, it was an incredibly compelling and powerful episode carried primarily by the acting and the intricate storytelling, also really cared about what would happen to Cragen in a dire situation. Even if it was felt that the suspense wasn't quite as high.
"Lost Reputation" is a very good season premiere (one of the stronger faring ones of the latter seasons), with the many fantastic things that "Rhodium Nights" had still very much intact. Do think though that it is not as good an episode for pretty much the same reasons felt on first watch. Still "Lost Reputation" was very well done and indicated a lot of promise for Season 14 (which actually turned out to be a rather mixed bag, though worse seasons followed, the original 'Law and Order's' Season 14 was a lot more consistent).
Do still think that "Lost Reputation" doesn't have the same level of suspense as "Rhodium Nights" and everything with Foster could have been less obvious than it turned out.
Also thought that although not as bad as Stabler's over-milked personal life drama, Amaro's family scenes did drag the episode down at times and didn't add much other than a little development to Amaro.
However, so much is great in "Lost Reputation". It is shot with the right amount of intimacy without being claustrophobic and that the editing has become increasingly tighter over-time has been great too. Nice use of locations too. The music doesn't get over-scored or overwrought, even in the more dramatic revelation moments. The direction is also accommodating. There is a tight, thoughtful script that crackles in tension.
The story is suitably intricate and suspenseful, with plenty of surprises. Moreover, the acting is great all round. Particularly Dann Florek, who does authoritative and conflicted so well, and a wonderfully loathsome Peter Jacobson (he always plays those sort of roles extremely well).
Overall, very good and promising season premiere. 8/10.
"Lost Reputation" is a very good season premiere (one of the stronger faring ones of the latter seasons), with the many fantastic things that "Rhodium Nights" had still very much intact. Do think though that it is not as good an episode for pretty much the same reasons felt on first watch. Still "Lost Reputation" was very well done and indicated a lot of promise for Season 14 (which actually turned out to be a rather mixed bag, though worse seasons followed, the original 'Law and Order's' Season 14 was a lot more consistent).
Do still think that "Lost Reputation" doesn't have the same level of suspense as "Rhodium Nights" and everything with Foster could have been less obvious than it turned out.
Also thought that although not as bad as Stabler's over-milked personal life drama, Amaro's family scenes did drag the episode down at times and didn't add much other than a little development to Amaro.
However, so much is great in "Lost Reputation". It is shot with the right amount of intimacy without being claustrophobic and that the editing has become increasingly tighter over-time has been great too. Nice use of locations too. The music doesn't get over-scored or overwrought, even in the more dramatic revelation moments. The direction is also accommodating. There is a tight, thoughtful script that crackles in tension.
The story is suitably intricate and suspenseful, with plenty of surprises. Moreover, the acting is great all round. Particularly Dann Florek, who does authoritative and conflicted so well, and a wonderfully loathsome Peter Jacobson (he always plays those sort of roles extremely well).
Overall, very good and promising season premiere. 8/10.
